THE THEATRES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17567, 18 June 1925, Page 5

THE THEATRES.

ATTRACTION'S FOR THE 'WEEK. ITJRYBODY'S THEATRE “IF I MARRY AG-AIN " ZYISYBODY'S THEATRE •• THREE WISE POORS " GREATER CRT3TAL FA.LACE . . •• THE HURRICANE KID " GREATER CRYSTAL PALACE . . *• DEFYING DESTINY" ” GRAND THEATRE . . . . . . •• TONGUES OP FLAME ” LIBERTY THEATRE .. ... •• THREE WOMEN" QUEEN'S THEATRE . . . . . . •• my LADY'S DRESS ” QUEEN'S THEATRE . . “ THE BELOVED CHEATER ’’ STRAND THEATRE "TORNADO" STRAND THEATRE . . " THE VENGEANCE OP PIERRE " RING'S THEATRE *• BLACK OXEN ” KING'S THEATRE .. „ „ "CHIVALROUS CHARLIE" THEATRE ROYAL LONG TACK SAM AND CO. PULLER'S OPERA. HOUSE VAUDEVILLE Si REVUE

Marked, .with the stamp of authenticity, showing the actual splendour of -the Nile country and revealing a love story that has conic dowu through tho ages, “The Shepherd King.” a "William Fox production, which will be shown at tho Queen’s Theatre on Monday, is a production that should appeal to every cne. The screen version of the wonderful story from the Bible has created a marked impression in other parts of the world, and, as a stage play, it created a sensation. The dramatic story of David, tho shepherd boy, who finally become monarch, with its romance and pathes, has been reproduced on the screen with impressive results. More than 0000 extras, with oCO camels and as many donkeys, form the sorrowing army of the children of Israel being led out. of Egypt by Moses. This scene is used as a prologue for the reason that from the house of Moses came the house of David. Massive sets and impressive mob scenes add to the spectacular beauty tho picture at every turn. The interiors arc remarkable enough, hut the active desert- scenes, filmed in the shadows of the ancient pyramids, arc even more so.

A modern girl, who believes iu. accepting a man as ho. is without inquiring into his past, is tiie heroine of Mv Husband's Wives,”’ which will the supoprting feature at the Queen’s 'I heatr©. on Monday. For this reason the girl refuses, just before her wedding. to let her fiance explain about his former matrimonial venture. Soon after th G wedding the young wife invites to her home a girl friend, who proves to be her husband’s former wife. Tho complications that ensue make* an intensely interesting ste.ry. Shirley Mason is in the. leading role, and K supported by Bryant Washburn and Evelyn Brent. The salt tang of the South Seas mingles with the mysticism of tho Orient in the First National production “ As a .Man Desires,’’ wbcih will bo screened at Everybody’s Theatre cu Monday. It is adapted from Gene Wright's novel “ Pandora Lo Croix,” and Milton Sills and Viola Dana aro the featured players. Milton Sills enacts tho part of a British army officer. who, accused of murder, flees to Tahiti and becomes tbe notorious captain of a. pearl fishing vessel. Then, into his life comes a dusky and coquettish native dancing girl of Tahiti. enacted by Viola Dana. Driven to the depths of human degradation. Sills marries th<> sportive creature, contemptuously promising to make a *’ fine lady ” of her. Meantime, however, his name has been cleared of tho Indian murder and search instituted for 'him by the girl he really loves. How they finally meet, and their pathway to happiness is cleared conies as a dramatic climax to tho vivid story. "Ruth Clifford, Rosemary Theby and Tom Kennedy me the principal supports. “Circe the Enchantress.” a Metro production, to be screened at Everybody’s Theatre on Monday, was written especially for Mao Murrav bv Vicente Blasco Ibanez. author of “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” and ether famous novels, and; it supplies her with one of. the best stories in which she ever appeared. Ibanez has based the story on tho mythical goddess, Circe. This episode of the picture has been .transferred t«> the screen in a very colourful way, and is an interesting novelty ns well as furnishing a. foundation for the real story that follows. In the real story Miss Murray portrays the part of Cecil© Brunne. .who is a modern C'irce until she meets one man, who fails to succumb to her charm. From lit is oil it develops into a fast mevdevelop, and in which Miss Murray is at her best. .Tames Kirkwood plays opposite tho star.^ “The Mad Whirl.'’ a L*ui versa IJcwel production, will be the principal attraction on the new programme at Greater Crystal Palace, commencing on Monday. Jh© story js an attack on certain phases of the life of a pleasure-seeking section of the rich in the United States, especially of tbe younger generation of society. It also has a bearing cn the lax manner in which many well-to-do parents exercise control over the conduct of tlieir young folk, with the added lesson ol the fwtilitv of parents joining in the niad w hi: 1. Two different ivpes: ol

parents take a prominent part in the story. One is a retired publican who wisely believes in obeying the l*w and behaving himself in a sell-respecting manner. The other is the head of a wealthy family, who, with his family, takes part in a life of dangerous gaiety. The mad pranks of tho jazzing parties form a prominent quirt of the storv. The principal characters are filled by May M’Avoy. Jack Mulhall, Myrtle Stedrnan, Barbara Bedford, Alec Francis, Ward Crane and George Fawcett. “ Second 'Fiddle,” the second attraction on the new programme at Greater Crystal Palace, commencing on Monday, tells of a bay who is compelled to play “ second fiddle ” to an older brother, the idol of his parents. When the young brother is left one night to guard bis mother and sister with an empty gun from the attack of a brutal bully, he suddenly faints. As a result he is regarded bv the oilier members of bis family as a thorough coward. Later on, however, when another test comes, il is the younger brother who proves to he a real hero, while the older one fails to maintain his reputation. Glenn

Hunter and Mary Astor arc the featured players. The principal attraction on the new programme that will be presented at me Grand Theatre on Saturday is “ The Garden of Weeds/ a Paramount production starring the vivacious Betty 1 ■ '-mpson. The story deals with all the romance of the “ back-stage life ” of the theatre. Miss Compson is a chorus girl, an understudy to the leading lady in a show backed bv Philip Flagg, who makes his money by shady business deals,.and spends it to gratify his appelite. Betty is “fired” because she rcfuses to listen to the advances cf the selfish Flagg, but Douglas Crawford, a wealthy Bostonian, appears on the scene, and some dramatic moments follow, culminating in the discomfiture °- the wily Flagg and the intense happiness of Mr and Mrs Crawford. Rockldfe Fellowes plays admirably the vole oi the villain Flagg, and Warwick Baxter has the cast of Douglas Crawford. The second attraction on the new programme at the Grand Theatre will be “ Three "\\ omen,” which departs irom the “ eternal triangle ” to a rectangle. in which three women and one man figure. It is a story of three women and a man of the world, who values money above everything else. His marriage, however, does not change his old habits, and soon he finds himsejf in the midst of a love affair with a third. Then ths trouble starts, and the story is brought to a dramatic climax. That great screen lover Lew Cody is the man, and the three women are Pauline- Frederick, Mary M’Avoy aiv.i Marie Prsvost. A milestone on the road to perfect moving pictures is marked bv “ Wanderer of the Wasteland,” the. Paramount colour picture which will lie screened ai the Liberty Theatre on Saturday. The. picture is produced by a new process, which shows all the colours in a most natural way- Zane Grey s masterpiece was chosen as the hr.-t story to be filmed .-in colours. It is a typical Zane Grey- story of the American desert. Adam Larev, who works in a gold mine, has a scuffle with his brother over some money matters and during the struggle a gun is fired

• 1 uruuier x.uis ciown. inmknijj he is a murderer, Adam flees to the desert. and lives a lonely life wandering in -he wilderness, until he meets a girl, who persuades him to return to civilisation and to surrender to the authorities. Upon doing this he discovers that his brother is still alive. Jack Holt, Jvathlyn Williams, Billie Dove and Noah Beery arc the featured players. ” Squibs’ Honeymoon." the •-•e.cond feature coming to the liberty Theatre on Saturday, is the final of the popular " Squibs ’’ series of films with Baity Balfour in the role of Squibs. The .idventure? of th-s little Piccadilly flowerseller, who won a fortune in the Calcutta Sweep, have endeared, her \o thousands. The latest story tells of her last and greatest adventure. The De Mille brothers, William and Cecil and Douglas Fairbanks, have become partners in a sporting goods store in Pasadena, of which the once famous lawn tennis player. F. B. Alexander,